Republicans (or fill in the blank) are not the enemy.

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Republicans (or fill in the blank) are not the enemy.

We are...

  • the enemy of change when we say it can’t be done.
  • the enemy of truth when we disregard facts over the emotional argument.
  • the enemy when we ignore our governments’ or our politicians’ shortcomings.
  • the enemy when we do not celebrate the value of ALL people.
  • the enemy of humanity when we do not recognize that labeling people does not make them the thing we ascribe to them. It only shows our disrespect for others who are not like us or do not believe as we do.

We are the enemy…

  • when we don’t acknowledge that the “other” sends just as many of their children, if not more, to fight in wars not of their making as we do, and they die in equal, if not greater, numbers.
  • when we don’t accept that the “other” is just as likely, if not more so, to assist another person in a time of need than we are.
  • when we allow fear of “anyone who is not us” to affect our daily lives, to overwhelm our thoughts to the point of paralysis, or to dictate our personal and public policies.
  • when we don’t fight to make sure that ALL people(s)—yes, this includes those we don’t agree with or are currently fighting--get enough to eat, have a safe place to sleep and get a decent education.
  • when we don’t ensure fairness and justice for ALL—yes, even “Them.”

We are the enemy when…

  • we ridicule or denigrate others for their beliefs, whether they are religious, political or something else. ("If we'd been born where they were born and taught what they were taught, we would believe what they believe."-- A sign inside a church in Northern Ireland, explaining the origin of intolerance and hate.)
  • we think, believe or say “our side is better than your side” or any version thereof and do not acknowledge the positives and shortcomings of all sides.
  • we judge others by our own limited standards (human beings by nature are limited).
  • we continue to insist that it is the “other” who needs to change, not us, especially when the facts are contrary to what we espouse.
  • we don’t recognize, understand and renounce our own hatreds.

We are the enemy when we…

  • do not listen, really listen, with our minds open and unafraid.
  • do not recognize parts of ourselves in the “other.”
  • ascribe to others the parts of ourselves that we do not like.
  • do not question, question, question.
  • fail to understand that we are ALL part of a finite world.

We are the enemy when we do nothing.

Note: For those who feel the term “enemy” is too strong or offends them in some way, please consider the following definitions from the Oxford Dictionaries (online):

  • A person who is actively opposed or hostile to someone or something
  • A thing that harms or weakens something else
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janis b's picture

for the worlds good health. Thank you.

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WindDancer13's picture

Here's to your health and that of the world! = )

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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle
If there is no struggle there is no progress.--Frederick Douglass

janis b's picture

This is truly an amazing guide to good health and personal satisfaction.

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nickydale's picture

I feel purified by grokking that. I feel as though I have been anointed

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reborn evolved

WindDancer13's picture

We are no longer strangers. = )

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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle
If there is no struggle there is no progress.--Frederick Douglass

Gerrit's picture

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Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.

WindDancer13's picture

Thank you!
Pogo1.png

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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle
If there is no struggle there is no progress.--Frederick Douglass

pfiore8's picture

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“There are moments which are not calculable, and cannot be assessed in words; they live on in the solution of memory… ”
― Lawrence Durrell, "Justine"

WindDancer13's picture

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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle
If there is no struggle there is no progress.--Frederick Douglass

detroitmechworks's picture

Save the few true sociopaths, in order to get people to do evil, they have to think of their actions as "Pragmatic" or "realistic."

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I do not pretend I know what I do not know.

WindDancer13's picture

We become Doers.

Einstein_evil.jpg

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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle
If there is no struggle there is no progress.--Frederick Douglass

gulfgal98's picture

There is nothing more sobering and real than to look in a mirror and realize that Pogo was right.

pogo.jpg

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Do I hear the sound of guillotines being constructed?

“Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." ~ President John F. Kennedy

WindDancer13's picture

so stinking honest. Hopefully, we can learn something from them.

Damn mirror.jpg

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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle
If there is no struggle there is no progress.--Frederick Douglass

pswaterspirit's picture

I live among republicans. I find very little disagreement with them on what we think is wrong and lots of differences on what needs to take place to fix it. Over the years they have actually helped me refine my own ideas as we have discussed various issues.

We had a big storm yesterday I listened all night to trees cracking and falling. This morning it is raining and barely light yet I hear chainsaws running in my driveway. I will be freed from my trapped state in a few hours. The cost will be a bit of food and some gas from the 50 gallon drums I keep here on the farm for the tractor. Even that is a voluntary contribution. I know at least one of them is a hopeless republican. The others are likely to caucus for Bernie and vote for Trump should Bernie fail. Their history is pretty mixed.

They are very strong on being a good neighbor, and caring for their community putting many hours into fighting fires, keeping the community center standing or helping out old people. I can respect that. I in fact consider them old friends. I do not require they think like me.

In this fairly isolated place we are on our own for the most part. After this storm no one will save us we will have to save ourselves. That's the way it has always been.

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WindDancer13's picture

...during one of my prolonged arguments with my father that my mother broke in to say that we both agreed on the destination, just not how to get there. We often forget to actually listen. It sounds like you do with your neighbors. There are good people with thoughtful ideas and examples of generosity and good will everywhere if we just listen.

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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle
If there is no struggle there is no progress.--Frederick Douglass

Let's make this part of our platform, when we get around to making one.

This is a wonderful expansion of the GOlden Rule.

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WindDancer13's picture

the Golden Rule. I am just wordier. = )

Thanks!

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We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act, but a habit.--Aristotle
If there is no struggle there is no progress.--Frederick Douglass